2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
109
Ranked Colleges
31,199
Degrees Awarded
$7,500
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
With 556,813 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts general studies is the 1st most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 31,199 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,497 and $16,369 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 109 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts general studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The liberal arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Metropolitan Community College is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 568 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
MCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MCC is $3,325 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Metropolitan Community College
Out of the 109 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, St Charles Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. St Charles Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Cottleville, Missouri. It awarded 531 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $2,107 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SCC.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at St Charles Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Garden City Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Garden City Community College is a public institution located in Garden City, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 227 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Garden City Community College is $3,934 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Garden City Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Out of the 109 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Dakota College at Bottineau landed the #4 spot on the list. Bottineau, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 78 students in 2020-2021.
MSU-Bottineau not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Dakota College at Bottineau is $8,324 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Dakota College at Bottineau
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 2,357 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $6,125 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MCC.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at MCC
University of Iowa came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 221 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Iowa also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $13,554 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Iowa Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Bismarck State College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 352 students in 2020-2021.
BSC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $6,265 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bismarck State College.
Full Bismarck State College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #8, State Fair Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Sedalia, Missouri, this small public school awarded 429 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,179 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend State Fair Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at State Fair Community College
With a ranking of #9, Des Moines Area Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution located in Ankeny, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,170 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
DMACC also took the #21 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $8,177 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College
Haskell Indian Nations University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 36 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Haskell Indian Nations University is $2,739 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Haskell
With a ranking of #11, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 99 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,394 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UND.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at UND
Independence Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Independence Community College is a public institution located in Independence, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 83 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Independence Community College is $6,146 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Independence Community College
Marshalltown Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Marshalltown Community College is a small school located in Marshalltown, Iowa that handed out 144 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Marshalltown Community College is $5,805 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Marshalltown Community College
Iowa Central Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Iowa Central Community College is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 426 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Central Community College is $8,872 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Iowa Central Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
University of Northern Iowa landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 68 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
UNI also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $10,513 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Northern Iowa
Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized school located in Sioux City, Iowa that handed out 124 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,071 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College
University of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 118 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, KU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Kansas is $15,666 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Kansas Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Fort Hays State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FHSU is located in Hays, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 356 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
FHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,774 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FHSU.
Full FHSU Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Barton County Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Barton County Community College is a public institution located in Great Bend, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 382 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Barton Community College is $7,303 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Barton County Community College
Labette Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Labette Community College is a public institution located in Parsons, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 84 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Labette Community College is $5,821 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Labette Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Southeastern Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southeastern Community College is a small public school situated in West Burlington, Iowa. It awarded 248 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,752 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southeastern Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Southeastern Community College
Johnson County Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Overland Park, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 1,257 students in 2020-2021.
JCCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Johnson County Community College is $11,535 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at JCCC
Saint Louis Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 1,372 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $6,179 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Saint Louis Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Ozarks Technical Community College is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 629 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for OTC is $6,220 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Ozarks Technical Community College
Iowa Western Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. This medium-sized school is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and it awarded 493 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,587 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.
Full Iowa Western Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
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